Virat Kohli Wants Ravi Shastri as India Coach

BCCI is likely to finalise the positions of the coaching staff before the South Africa series.

Aug 10, 2015 18:25 IST

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to take call on the positions of the coaching staff ahead of the South Africa's Tour of India. But India Test captain Virat Kohli seemed to be keen on having Ravi Shastri in the position of the head coach of Team India.

"He is the most amazing person to have around this team right now because of the kind of confidence he gives. He has authority; when he speaks, people respect him. There is no talk just for the sake of it. He is sensible and someone who gives you a lot of confidence and a lot of assurance. That is what you need as young players," Kohli told the media.

According to a BCCI official, the players in the India team want Shastri to lead them, as they are happy with the present set up of Sanjay Bangar, R Sreedhar and Bharat Arun, who have been working under Shastri.

It has been learnt that if a decision is taken on the position of the head coach, that will only happen after the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016, which will be held in India starting from the month of March.

BCCI formed a three-member committee earlier this year consisting of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman. The legendary former Indian players will be suggesting names for the position of the coach of Team India.

"If the committee suggest the name of a coach, the Board will pursue it and do the needful. Till then, the current arrangement would continue," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told reporters.

Currently, Shastri has been appointed as the interim coach of India who has joined the side in Sri Lanka for the forthcoming Test series, which will start from 12 August, Wednesday at Galle.

Shastri could not be a part of the Zimbabwe tour because he had prior commitments with Sky Sports for the Ashes 2015 in England. Shastri was a part of the expert panel of the Sky Sports during the ongoing Ashes series in England but now he has flown down to the Lankan island to lead India off the field.